Apparatus for handling rolls or the like during flame hardening process



1941- c. F. SCHNUCK ,260,919

APPARATUS FORHANDLING ROLLS OR THE LIKE DURING FLAME HARDENING'PROCESS Filed'April a, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 28, 1941. CF. scl-mucK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROLLS OR THE LIKE DURING FLAME HARDENING PROCESS Filed April 8, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 28, 1941. c. F. scHNucK APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROLLS OR THE LIKE DURING FLAME HARDENING' PROCESS s' Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed April 8, 1940 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ROLLS OR THE LIKE DURING FLAME HARDENING PROC- ESS Carl F. Schnuck, New Haven, Conn., assignor to Farrel-Birmingham Company, Inc., Ansonia, Com, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 8, 1940, Serial No. 328,600

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for use in the torch hardening of metals, and more particularly in the hardening by the torch or flame process of cylindrical objects, and especially relatively large, or heavy rolls.

In this method of hardening rolls, the accepted practice is to arrange a series of torches around the roll and move them longitudinally of the roll during the hardening process, while following the torches with a quenching fluid. to cool the roll surface. This requires that the lon itudinal axis of the roll be in a substantially vertical position. When such rolls are relatively large and heavy it is a matter of considerable difllculty to placethem in such position, although it is a relatively easy matter to handle them by means of a sling when in horizontal position.

In the present invention this disadvantage is overcome by arranging a roll-supporting device which is pivotally or tiltably supported so that the roll may be mounted therein when the device is in horizontal position, and the supporting means and roll then swung as a unit to vertical position. 'By this arrangement the roll may be very readily handled by means of a crane with slings about the roll journal, and mounted in position in supporting standards resembling the ordinary head and tailstocks, and after the roll is secured in place the device is tilted so that the roll is tip-ended to a vertical position.

During the hardening process it is necessary to rotate the roll as well as to move the torch plate and quenching nozzles longitudinally thereof.

Therefore, upon the bed which supports the rolls I provide driving means connected to the roll for the rotation of the latter, and also driving means to reciprocate the torch plate longitudinally of the bed'. The source ofpower for each of these means is located exterlorly of the bed, and the means connecting the source of power with the provision of a work-supporting device designed to rotatably support a piece of work such as a cylindrical roll, the device being mounted on a horizontal axis so that it may be moved from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, and to mount adjacent the work a'supporting member for the flame torches whichmay be moved longitudinally of the work, and also provide for the rotation of the work in any position ofthe supporting device.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a work-supporting bed having standards thereon for rotatably supporting a work piece, such as a roll or the like, which bed is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis to swing from horizontal to substantially vertical position, and which supporting bed also carries means for rotating the work and means for moving a torch plate mounted thereon longitudinally of the work, the power sources for each of these means being located exteriorly oi the bed and having driving connections through the pivotal axis of the bed.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a roll-supporting device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device; Fig. 3 is an end view; and I a Fig.4 is a sectional view on'llne 4-4 of Fig. 1.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment. of the improved device which may be employed to carry out my novel method of handling work pieces, such as rolls, during hardening operations, I have shown in the drawings a supporting base 10 having spaced supporting standards II at each driving means must be so constructed that it I .will not be affected by the tilting movement. I

therefore arrange driving shafts from each or the sources of power, the axes of which are coincident with the pivotal axis of the bed, and in this way the bed may be swung upon its pivot without disconnecting the driving means, which are operative in any position of the bed.

An object of the invention is the provision of I a supporting structure for a work piece during a hardening or like process, so constructed that the work piece may be mounted therein in a horizontalposition, and thereafter swung to a vertical position.

A still further object of the invention is the any suitable foundation, as, for example, the 1 floor. Each of the standards II is provided I with an opening I3 in which is rotatably mounted a hollow trunnion ll. Secured toand surrounding the trunnion are a pair of spaced eye members I5, which eye members are in turn secured to the under surface of a bed designated generally by the numeral IG. This bed may be of any suitable construction, and in the present form consists of a pair .of spaced longitudinal I beams l'| connected by transverse beams l8. On the'top of the beams I1 is a plate l8 upon which iscarried at one end a-headstock l9 and at the other end a tailstock 20, which tailstock is movable longitudinally of the bed so as to accommodate work pieces of different lengths. The tailstock 20 is provided with adjusting wheels 2| at each side by which it may be thus adjusted, these hand wheels being provided with shafts 22 carrying at their lower ends gears 23 which cooperate with the rack 24 upon the bed.

The tilting of the bed may be accomplished conveniently .by so arranging the pivotal axis thereof that the left-hand end, as shown in Fig. 2, overbalances the right-hand end, so that when released the bed would naturally swing to a vertical position. The bed is held in horizontal position by means of the cable 25 having one end secured to the bed and the other end connected with a suitable source of power after being passed about a sheave 26. The winding or slacking of the cable will satisfactorily accomplish the movement of the bed from horizontal to vertical position, and vice versa. In order to support the bed when in a vertical position, an hydraulic jack 21 may be mounted in the pit 28 into which the free end of the bed is adapted to swing, so that the plunger of the jack -may be raised to contact the end of the bed for this purpose, thus preventing swinging movement on the trunnions during the hardening process.

It is also necessary to rotate the work piece, which in the present instance is a roll 29, during the hardening operation, and to effect this result the headstock of the roll-holding device is rotatable and driven by a chain 30, which chain is trained around a sprocket wheel 3| secured upon a shaft 32 mounted in bearings 33 below the bed. This shaft extends rearwardly to a point adjacent the trunnion l4, and is there provided with a worm wheel 34 which projects through a. slot in the trunnion I4 to engage a worm 35 secured to a shaft 36 rotatably mounted therein. The shaft 36 may be driven from any suitable source of power 31 through a universal joint 38. The power source 31 will preferably be variable in speed and is mounted on a stationary base so that it does not swing with the bed. However, as the axis of the drive shaft 36 coincides with the pivotal axis about which the bed swings, it will be apparent that the driving connections between the power source and the roll will always be maintained regardless of the position of the bed.

Also rotatably mounted in the trunnion l4 and projecting from the other end thereof is a second shaft 40 driven from a suitable source of power 4| through a variable speed transmission 4|, and worm 42 carried by this shaft within the trunnion engages through a slot in the trunnion with a worm wheel 43 secured to a shaft 44 extending longitudinally of the bed toward the tailstock end thereof. Upon the shaft 44 is a worm 45 engaging the teeth of a worm wheel 46 mounted upon a shaft 4'! rotatably mounted transversely of the bed of the device and carrying a sprocket 48 at each end thereof.

Adjacent the headstock end of the device is a shaft 49 in parallelism with the shaft 41, which shaft 49 is rotatably mounted in the bed in bearing blocks 50, which may be slidably mounted in bearing frames in order to adjust the tension of the sprocket chains 52 at each side of the bed, which chains are trained over the sprockets 48 and sprockets 53 on the shaft 49.

To the sprocket chains 52 are attached lower depending ears 54 of a member 55 slidably mounted upon the bed plate l8 which member carries the torch plate 56 to which an annular ring or series of torches 57 may be secured to surround the work piece. It will be understood that this torch plate will also carry the quenching nozzles (not shown) which are used in hardening process of the kind under discussion, so that when the torch-supporting plate 56 is moved longitudinally of the bed, both the torches and the quenching nozzles will be carried longitudinally of the work piece while the latter is being rotated to treat the entire surface of the work.

' From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a work piece in the form of a cylindrical roll, for example, may be readily set up in the supporting structure illustrated, while the latter is in horizontal position, by means of the usual crane and slings, which slings will ordinarily embrace the roll necks. When one of the roll necks has been set in the headstock and the roll is in proper position on the bed, the tailstock will be set up to embrace the end of the other roll neck, and the entire roll-supporting structure .may then be swung from a horizontal to a vertical position about the axis of the trunnion I4. I have found it convenient to overbalance the bed upon the trunnion, as explained, so that when the cable 25 is released the roll will be moved by gravity to a vertical position, and will be positively returned to horizontal position by drawing the cable 25 over the sheave, as by a crane, for example. It will be understood that other means may be provided for controlling the position of the bed and work thereon, if desired.

It will also be understood that .by the arrangement of the shafts 36 and 40 at the pivotal axis of the bed, the source of power for these shafts may be mounted upon stationary supports, and at the same time will always be in driving connection with the headstock and the torch plate, so that the roll may be rotated and the torch plate moved longitudinally of the roll in any positlon of the latter. It will also be understood that means (not shown) will be provided to reverse the direction of the shaft 40, so that the torch plate may be moved in opposite directions.

As shown, the supporting base II! is mounted upon the floor l2, and as the upright standards H are not sufliciently high above the floor line to permit the bed to swing to a vertical position, these standards are arranged at the edge of a pit extending :below the floor to permit the swinging of the bed. It will, of course, be understood that the standards H may, if desired, be made of greater height, or the base I0 may be placed upon 'a supporting block raised above the floor line.

In order to support and steady the end of the bed when it is is horizontal position, a block 60 may be provided. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower surface of the bed is designed to 'rest upon the upper surface of this block when the bed has been drawn to horizontal position by means of the cable 25.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodimentof my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l, A work-supporting device comprising a bed, means pivotally supporting said bed on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the bed whereby the latter may be disposed in substantially horizontal or substantially vertical positions, means on the bed for rotatably supporting the work in a position spaced from the bed, and torch-supporting means movably mounted on said bed and embracing the work, and means for rotating the work comprising a drive member coaxial with the pivot of the bed.

2. An apparatus for handling a roll during flam hardening thereof, comprising an elongated bed, means adjacent each end of the bed for rotatably supporting one end of the roll to be hardened in spaced relation to the bed and with the roll axis substantially parallel to the surface of the bed, a support, and means pivoting said bed to said support to tilt about a horizontal axis whereby the bed and roll carried in spaced relation thereto may be swung from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical positiomsaid pivoting means being disposed adjacent one edge of the support and adjacent the central portion of the bed whereby one end of the latter may swing downwardly below the surface of the support when the roll axis is placed in a substantially vertical position.

3. A work-supporting device comprising a'bed, means for pivotally supporting said bed on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the bed whereby the latter may be disposed in substantially horizontal or substantially vertical positions, means on the bed for rotatably supporting the work, said bed-supporting means including a trunnion, a shaft extending into the trunnion, means for rotating said'shaft, a worm on said shaft a suitably supported worm wheel engaging said worm through an opening in the trunnion, and driving connections between said worm and work to rotate the latter.

4. A work-supporting device comprising a bed, means pivotally supporting said bed on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the bed whereby the latter may be disposed in substantially horizontal or substantially vertical positions, means on the bed for supporting the work on an axis substantially parallel to the bed,

torch-supporting means movably mounted on during hardening operations or the like, a supporting base, a bed, means for pivotally supporting said bed from the base including a horizontal hollow trunnion, means on said bed for tions, means on the bed for supporting the work,

torch-supporting means movably mounted on said bed, means for moving saidtorch-supporting means longitudinally of the bed, said bedsupporting means including a trunnion, a shaft rotatably mounted in said trunnion, and connections from saidshaft to the torch-supporting means to move the latter, and a stationary power source to rotate said shaft in various positions of the bed. i

6. In a mechanism, for supporting a work piece during hardening operations or the like, a supporting base, a bed, means for pivotally supporting said bed from the base including a horizontal hollow trunnion, means on said bed for rotatably supporting the work piece, a pair of shafts mounted in said trunnion, one" of said shafts having connection with the work to rotate the latter, a torch support movably mounted on the bed, the other of said shafts having connectipn with the torch support to move it longitudinally of the bed, and means to drive said shafts.

7. In a mechanism for supporting a work piece sion of the bed, means on the bed for supporting a roll, torch-supporting means mounted on said rotatably supporting the work piece, a pair of shafts mounted in said trunnion, one of said shafts having connection. with the work to rotate the latter, a torch support movably mounted on the bed, the other of said shafts having connection with the torch plate to move it longitudinally of the bed, and means to drive said shafts, said driving means being stationary with respect to the supporting base but having connections with the work and torch supportin various positions of the bed.

8. A work-supporting device comprising a bed,

means pivotally supporting said bed on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the bed whereby the latter-may be disposed in substantially horizontal or substantially vertical positions, means on the bed for supporting the work, torch-supporting means movably mounted on said bed, and means for moving said torch-supporting means longitudinally of the bed, said bed-supporting means including a trunnion, a shaft rotatable in said trunnion, a pair of sprocket wheels, rotatably carried by the bed, a chain'trained over said sprocket wheels and having the torch-supporting means connected thereto, driving connections between said shaft and said sprocket wheels to drive the latter from the former, and a stationary power source to rotate said shaft. ,9. A device for supporting a roll or the like during hardening of the same, said device comprising a base, a bed pivotally supported on the base adjacent one edge of. the latter whereby an end of the bed projects beyond the base to swing below the upper portion thereof, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the bed. means on the bed for supporting a roll, torch-supporting means mounted on said bed to move longitudinally thereof, and means for rotating the roll in any position of the bed.

10. A device for supporting a roll or the like during hardening of the same, said device comprising a base, a bed pivotally supported on the base adjacent one edge of the latter whereby an end of the bed projects beyond the base to swing below the upper portionthereof, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the longitudinal dimenbed to move longitudinally thereof, a stationary source of power, and means to rotate said roll and move said torch-supporting means from said power source in any position of the-bed.

1 11. A device for supporting a roll or the like during hardening of the same, said device comprising a base, a bed pivotally supported on the base adjacent one edge of the latter whereby an end of the bed projects beyond the base to swing below the upper portion thereof, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the bed, means on the bed for supporting a roll, torch-supporting means mounted on said bed to move longitudinally thereof, a stationary source of power, and connections from said power source to said roll-rotating means and to the torch-supporting means, said connections being unbroken by the swinging movement of the bed.

12. A device for supporting a roll-or the like during hardening of the same, said device comprising a base, a bed pivotally supported on the base adjacent one edge of the latter whereby an end of the bed projects beyond the base to swing below the upper portion thereof, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the bed, means on the bed for supporting a roll, and meansfor rotating the roll in any position of the bed, said bed being overweighted at one end with respect to its pivotal axis whereby it normally tends to stand in a a substantially vertical position. a

13. A device for supporting a roll or the like during hardening of the same, said device comprising a base, a bed pivotally supported on the CARL F. SCHNUCK. 

